Chapter 2

Standing in the kitchen, I put on a freshly laundered apron.

Today’s special treat is a stick-shaped almond pie called "Sakristan."

I rolled out the pie dough I had prepared last night and poked holes all over it with a fork.

I brushed the rolled-out dough with egg yolk using a brush and sprinkled crushed almonds on it. Then, I layered another piece of dough on top and pressed it firmly with a rolling pin to prevent it from shifting.

I brushed the surface of the dough with egg yolk again and sprinkled almonds and granulated sugar. After cutting the dough into stick shapes and letting them dry for a while, I twisted them. I would bake them in the preheated oven.

While waiting for them to bake, I made cookies called "Langues de Chat" with the leftover egg whites.

I creamed the butter that had been brought to room temperature an hour ago, and mixed in powdered sugar, egg whites, and vanilla beans. Then, I added flour and kneaded it into the dough.

I filled a piping bag with the dough and piped it onto a greased baking sheet in stick shapes. All that was left was to bake them.

While I was doing this, the Sakristan was baking to perfection.

When I opened the oven, the delightful aroma of almonds filled the kitchen.

They had baked to a beautiful golden brown.

The name "Sakristan" has a mysterious ring to it.

The name comes from the church. It seems that the person who manages the ceremonial decorations and staffs is called a Sakristan. The treat is named after the twisted staff that the Sakristan holds.

I took a bite to taste.

The layered dough was light and crispy, with a gentle almond fragrance.

The crunch of the granulated sugar added a nice accent.

Yes, they baked beautifully.

Today, in addition to the Sakristan and Langues de Chat, I also baked Sablés and Financiers.

I carefully packed the finished treats into a basket so they wouldn’t get crushed.

I always deliver them before noon. It looks like I’ll be able to deliver them at a good time today.

I put on a straw hat and went out the back door.

If I use the front door, I’ll be followed by ducks.

My neighbors are also wary of the ducks, so they visit through the back door.

I walked down the streets of the lower town.

This area is surprisingly peaceful, unlike the capital.

The street trees are apple trees. Delicate white flowers were blooming here and there. In about ten days, they would be in full bloom.

In the fall, the children of the lower town and the birds engage in a battle over the apples.

They are a hard and tart variety, but apparently, they make delicious jam. I’ve lived in the lower town for two years, but I haven’t tasted them yet. I don’t feel like I could win the battle.

One day, I want to taste victory. It’s a secret ambition.

I deliver the treats to a confectionery shop that caters to the common people.

A former pastry chef from my household works there.

Out of pity for me, who had no money, no job, and no prospects, he persuaded the shop owner to buy my treats. He’s a lifesaver.

The confectionery shop, with its red brick and green roof, is a charming place. It’s a beloved shop that has been around for a long time.

When I opened the door, a bell rang.

"Welcome—oh, it’s not Franette."

"Good afternoon, Sorin."

"Good afternoon~"

The woman who greeted me with a smile is Sorin, the shop’s signboard girl. We get along well.

I deliver treats here every two to three days.

Out of pity for my fallen state, she sells my treats on consignment without any commission.

"Here’s today’s batch."

"Sure, I’ve got it. Here’s the revenue from the last batch."

"Thank you."

It seems that the treats I delivered the other day sold out.

Apparently, there’s a quirky regular customer who loves my treats.

He’s so upset that even one of my treats sells.

He comes here every day to check if my treats have been delivered. He always wears a deep hood, so his identity is unknown.

"As usual, your regular customer was suspicious."

"From what you’ve told me, I can’t deny it."

He has a clear, unaccented voice but speaks incredibly fast. He’s tall and thin, and the coat he wears is luxurious.

Sorin guesses he’s a wealthy person in his late twenties to mid-thirties.

"I’m sorry about the strange regular customer."

"That’s fine. He always leaves a good tip."

"That’s good to hear."

When I was about to leave with a thank you, Sorin stopped me. She offered to share some of the morning bread she had baked.

"Franette, if you only eat potatoes, you won’t have any strength. Make sure to eat bread properly."

"I know. Thank you for the bread."

I waved goodbye to Sorin.

The smell of the wheat made my stomach growl.

Potatoes alone don’t fill you up. As Sorin said, I should eat bread.

However, if I had flour, I’d rather make and sell pastries. That’s why I always end up eating bread last.

Freshly baked bread, a rich vegetable potage, thickly sliced bacon, a soft-boiled egg, and a warm vegetable salad—my breakfast before my fall was, in retrospect, quite luxurious.

I don’t strongly desire to return to that life, but I do want to indulge a bit in my meals.

Besides making pastries, I might start another job.

I could try fortune-telling, as my sister taught me.

I would channel magic into a crystal to read someone’s fortune.

However, I don’t have the money to buy a fortune-telling crystal.

As I slumped in disappointment, I noticed a smooth sphere on the road.

Could it be a crystal!?

Is such a coincidence even possible?

However, lost items have owners. I should take it to the knight’s station first.

If the owner isn’t found after a year, the finder gains the rights.

I ran over and picked up the crystal-sized sphere.

The dirty crystal, covered in dirt, distorted when I touched it.

"Eh—Oh!!"

I realized then.

The sphere on the road wasn’t a crystal but a slime.